As ultrarunners, we live for planning. Lotteries. Race calendars. Training plans. Sound familiar? Normally, this is the time when we’d be planning for the year ahead. Yes, things have changed. The anticipation of race...
Tag: From the Editor
The community. Smiles from familiar faces. Hugs from long lost friends. Meeting new people who feel like long lost friends. These are the things I miss about not running ultras in 2020.Connecting with others at events is...
The act of running is as simple as it gets, but as distances grow longer, so does the list of necessary gear. After a few years of carrying handhelds on long runs and suffering from numb fingers, loose straps and a gener...
As I sit down to write this, a majority of the world continues under broad orders to shelter in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Just a little over three weeks ago, my kids were still in school...
An early season 50k is a great opportunity to “check the engine,” if you will. It’s also an excellent reminder of why we run ultramarathons. Maybe you’re really just looking to get some miles in and test the race waters,...
As spring training begins to grip you with its nasty, muddy hands, and you come to terms with the miles that lie ahead this season, don’t forget to schedule in some time to volunteer this year.As seasoned ultrarunners kn...
In 2019, world records were broken by men and women, and iconic races had their courses smashed. Women commanded the headlines with major wins in both the U.S. and abroad – and the spotlight became a little brighter on t...
Winter has arrived – time to break out the hand warmers so you’re able to keep your fingers crossed that the lotteries treat you kindly. With a new year on the horizon, it’s a perfect time to start thinking about which r...
I’m inspired almost every day by people doing amazing things – whether that’s running three 200-milers in three months or finishing a 5k for the very first time. These stories motivate me to keep doing what I’m doing, bu...
Runners endure their fair share of nerves and anxiety when it comes to competition. As a female runner, I’ve endured my fair share of harassment and discouragement, as well. From being called names in seventh grade becau...
Pumpkin doughnuts. That’s all it took to get me to sign up for a scramble in the fall – one of my first official trail races. Held on a Friday afternoon in October, the course took runners through golden aspens, splashin...
Arriving at Squaw Valley as a registered runner for the Western States Endurance Run is magical. And that’s a bit of an understatement. Runners are treated like royalty throughout registration while being told, “We’ll se...
In 2017, the last finisher to round the track at Western States was Karen Bonnett-Natraj. The crowd erupted in cheers as she entered the stadium, and everyone was on their feet glancing at their watches as if that would...
Running on trails satisfies a primal need to connect with nature. The sheer thrill of treading across dirt, rocks and roots reaches deep into the soul and leaves us wanting more. After I began running ultras, I discovere...
At a recent 50k, I was reminded how important it is to listen to your body. More specifically, your gut.If you’re lucky, identifying pangs of hunger comes easily, which allows you to fuel regularly throughout an ultra. B...
In 1981, the music scene in New York City was a melting pot of reggae, jazz, disco, hardcore and much more, with hip hop and rap beginning to bubble just beneath the surface. Back then we could hold music in our hands wi...
For the past three years, I’ve been volunteering for the running club at my kids’ school. Kindergartners through fifth graders have the option of using their recess to run laps instead of play on the playground. Some of...
While running the McDonald Forest 50K, my first ultra, I met a guy named Michael. We exchanged stories as I talked about my young twins and he told me how he’d run this particular race several times in the past. His trai...
The phone rang and on the other line was John Medinger. “Hey Karl, so we’re thinking about selling the magazine and this is my first call. What do you think?” It was April 2013 and I was sitting in my office, looking for...
Training for ultramarathons is hard work. It requires a huge commitment of time and energy to prepare yourself to run – maybe even race – up to 100 miles. Fifty-mile training weeks, punctuated with at least one long run...